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Pinetrees joins Great Walks of Australia

29-Mar-2017

The expansion of the Great Walks of Australia collective, beyond the current ten walks that make up the Signature Collection, is an important step in the promotion of Australia as a key global walking destination.

The first walk for NSW and the second in the collective located on a UNESCO World Heritage listed island, Seven Peaks Walk by Pinetrees, Lord Howe Island is a stunning addition and offers an amazing walking experience over 6 nights/5 days based out of Pinetrees Lodge.

Chair of Great Walks of Australia, Geoff Dixon said, “The addition of this walk, a first for NSW, highlights the importance of the collective to tourism in Australia and the impressive walking options we offer as true competitors in this growing adventure tourism space.”

The Seven Peaks Walk takes guests from pristine beaches and exposed coral platforms to the delicate mist forests on the summit of Mt Gower. Along the way guests will see sheltered swimming coves (with swimming and snorkelling opportunities), subtropical palm forests, freshwater creeks, rugged sea cliffs and volcanic peaks. Some sections of the walk, such as the Lower Road on Mt Lidgbird, wind along exposed narrow ledges (protected by ropes) across a 300 vertical metre cliff. Other sections of the walk take guests deep into Jurassic Park style banyan forests with the only rookeries of Providence petrels in the world.

Director of Pinetrees Lodge, Luke Hanson said, “We’ve been guiding guests around Lord Howe Island for 125 years, over six generations, and have come to learn the best combination of effort and reward to delight the most well-travelled international walkers. Our acceptance into Great Walks of Australia is an important step to help Lord Howe gain the recognition it deserves as a truly international walking destination. Pinetrees was recently ranked TripAdvisor’s No.1 Hotel in Australia for 2017, and in combination with our new membership of Great Walks of Australia, we’re confident that we can offer guests a luxury sub-tropical walking experience that compliments the amazing temperate and outback walks in the collection.”

Sample walk itinerary
Day 1. North Bay – glass bottom boat cruise to North Bay, climb North Head and Mt Eliza. Depending on conditions, walkers replace one climb with a trip to the Herring Pools from the Gulch. Guests then walk over Dawson Point to Old Settlement Beach and back to Pinetrees along the Lagoon foreshore.
Day 2. Malabar - climb to Kims Lookout and traverse the ridge between Kims and Malabar (two peaks). Descend the south ridge of Malabar to Neds Beach and have a swim or feed the fish. Then walk to Middle Beach and climb Transit Hill before returning to Pinetrees. This is a moderate trail with steps and rough ground. It offers spectacular views of the island.
Day 3. East Coast - walkers head to Mutton Bird Point and Rocky Run, then climb to Goathouse on Mt Lidgbird – an optional walk which is steep, uses ropes and provides the most rewarding views of the island. Walkers descend to Smoking Tree Ridge and climb Intermediate Hill to the new observation platform (funded by Dick Smith). Return via Blinky Beach.
Day 4. Water day (and rest day) - snorkelling trip on the outer reef (or offshore snorkel adventure to Admiralty Islands) followed by kayak trip on the Lagoon. All optional – guests can choose own adventure. Can be used as a weather day if earlier days are not suitable for walks.
Day 5. Mt Gower – this is the optional day for the advanced walker to climb Mt Gower at 867m. Stunning views await and a chance to experience the unique mist forest and bird rookery at the summit of this extinct volcano. Variations of this day are offered depending on the group ability with other options available including Erskine Valley. All options take people along the Lower Road, which is one of the most spectacular 400m walking tracks in Australia.

Great Walks of Australia
Great Walks of Australia is a collective of privately owned multiday guided walks that highlight the very best of Australia’s premium walk experiences – with coastal, inland and outback trails, high end accommodation, outstanding regional food and wine, and expert guides. Since its inception in 2012, Great Walks of Australia continues to grow with new member walks to the group, increased brand awareness, and partnerships through activity in the domestic and international markets that are key to the tourism sector of walking in Australia. The program is two tiered, with signature collection walks (ten) and the newly created expansion of additional walks, bringing the group size to 11 as of March 2017.